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First Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi Hands On: Your XTi Is Now Junk
Posted by Matt Buchanan at 3:36 PM on January 31, 2008
Unlike Nikon's D40x update, the D60, I'm pretty sure the Canon guy would've noticed if I swapped out my XTi (AU: That's a 400D) with the XSi (AU: 450D) Indiana Jones style, and not just because it's tied to the table (I really wanted to). It feels more solid, both in the material (not as toy-like) and in the grip, which now uses the same kind of rubber roughage as the 40D to feel more manly.
Its interface is sexier, with subtle shading and colour options, which look even better thanks to the great LCD screen (a necessity with live view, which well, worked). Shooting produced a more satisfying click than than the XTi as well and the autofocus was definitely snappy. We obviously couldn't subject it to lotsa photo tests right here, but if the specs and our bit of time add up correctly, this is the new entry-level DSLR king. [Giz @ PMA]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
iomatic
Posted 4:19 PM 31/1/08
Is it still all plastic?
iomatic
matt buchanan
Posted 4:19 PM 31/1/08
They're about the same size—the diff is in the build quality and materials mostly. There's a new separate ISO button on top.
matt buchanan
Weihovah
Posted 4:19 PM 31/1/08
anything else you can tell us about the grip? from the pics, it doesn't look a whole lot bigger than the xti grip
Weihovah
jaymac
Posted 5:19 PM 31/1/08
Soooo hot. Damn, and I just bought an XTi. The body material is a major plus.
jaymac
sangarts2
Posted 5:19 PM 31/1/08
I'm trying to make a decision on a dslr camera the next few weeks-- are you guys planning on doing a Nikon vs Canon Sizemodo comparison. Please do. I'm burnt on toggling from tabs on camera websites. Giz to my rescue!
sangarts2
iomatic
Posted 6:19 PM 31/1/08
If size is your requirement in an SLR, you should probably get to a store.
But you should probably know that there are a lot more to photography than the size of a camera body.
iomatic
mullingitover
Posted 8:19 PM 31/1/08
My Xti is indeed junk, but my L series glass isn't :D
mullingitover
NarPhoto
Posted 8:19 PM 31/1/08
being a student to become a professional photographer, i was debating on waiting on this one since i have a really shitty first gen rebel...i walked into our local photography store here in santa barbara and asked for the release date for it, dude had no clue but i actually ended up walking out of there with a refurbished 30D with vertical grip and a fixed 50mm 1.8 lens for 1100$..after getting familiar with the 30D more the only downsize is the live view and .5 smaller screen lol but it looks like a great camera but 30D is good for me. i will give it to canon though because they're doing something very good
rebel - pinto
-0D - 997 Turbo
-D - Lamborghini Reventon
NarPhoto
iForgot_my_iName
Posted 8:19 PM 31/1/08
how bout.. a.. you know... contest for one of these?
iForgot_my_iName
Jontacular
Posted 9:22 PM 31/1/08
I'm getting a bit lost with the names here as you have different names for these in the States... is this a revision to the 400D, does anyone know?
I have a 300D (the original Digital Rebel stateside, I think), so I'm behind the times either way...
Jontacular
Weihovah
Posted 9:22 PM 31/1/08
is this that much better than the xti? i was waiting for the xsi so the xti prices would drop
Weihovah
bhackethal
Posted 11:19 PM 31/1/08
I am shaking my fist at Canon! Why, why, why must they always tempt me with new and improved goodness? I wish I was still a renter with disposable income...I'd snatch up this bad boy in a minute.
bhackethal
mikecoscia
Posted 11:19 PM 31/1/08
I just bought a 40D to, but Its speced a little higher. Wish it had Live View with the AF though like the XSi
mikecoscia
Elliuotatar
Posted 11:19 PM 31/1/08
I think before one is allowed to review cameras, one should first know how to set the white balance on one's own camera!
Elliuotatar
Jontacular
Posted 11:19 PM 31/1/08
Great, thanks. One to keep an eye on then - the LCD on mine is like a postage stamp.
Jontacular
oveku
Posted 11:19 PM 31/1/08
This is the 450D in Europe.
The kit-objective is also supposed to be of much higher quality than the 350/400-kit, from what I've read in other reviews.
oveku
MastaFalse
Posted 12:19 AM 1/2/08
Anybody know where I can get last year's models for, uh ... cheapo? Or get the displays? That would be sexeriffic.
MastaFalse
oveku
Posted 2:19 AM 1/2/08
I'm looking forward to the moment I find the site that has a comparison of this and the 400D.
Maybe then I'll find a way to convince my wife that I should be allowed to buy one. (Not that I'm whipped in any way...)
But by the time I buy it, they probably launches the 500D, that in addition to take pictures also massages your eyebrows while you photograph or something.
oveku
graphicwave
Posted 2:19 AM 1/2/08
Canon's website shows the release date as APRIL! WTF? I already know I'm getting this bad boy asafp.
graphicwave
ashwinmudigonda
Posted 2:19 AM 1/2/08
My XTi has put some serious miles in the last 2 years (www.flickr.com/photos/ashwinmudigonda) I am going to get this one whenever its price tanks to 25-50% MSRP.
ashwinmudigonda
zarchitect
Posted 2:19 AM 1/2/08
@Weihovah: my question exactly. watching XTi prices dwindle away making it about 1/2 the cost of this thing. Is this worth paying the MSRP for the differences in features? The price difference offers the ability to snatch up a Lumix TZ5 for a nice (720p - NICE!!!) out-of-pocket companion!!!
zarchitect
SigmundTheSeaMonster
Posted 2:19 AM 1/2/08
Can't you learn how to use the white balance??? (rant) Why can't these blog sites (engadget, gizmodo,...) get a decent camera along with someone that can take pictures that look good (and not blurry, tinted, out of focus, shaken...)???
ARRRGGH! manufacturers: your new item looks like a turd!
SigmundTheSeaMonster
aperryz
Posted 3:19 AM 1/2/08
damn, I knew this was going to happen. Right after I got my XTi...
aperryz
WiwiJumbo
Posted 3:19 AM 1/2/08
On the white balance issue, Expodisc makes white balance quick and easy, especially in situations like live events.
[www.expoimaging.net]
Which leads to the question: Has Canon reversed their position over the "warmness" of their Tungsten and Auto Balance settings yet?
(Love my Rebel XT, hate the orange.)
WiwiJumbo
ashwinmudigonda
Posted 4:20 AM 1/2/08
Here is how you never worry about WB again:
[www.flickr.com]
ashwinmudigonda
sidepocket
Posted 4:20 AM 1/2/08
If you shoot in RAW format you'll never worry about white balance again.
sidepocket
roughwater
Posted 1:20 PM 1/2/08
Now I'm torn, I along with others have been waiting for this camera for months so the XTi prices would fall. However, now I want this for all the new cool features.
Note to those who just bought the XTi's. Canon refreses line-up on these about every 18 months or so, it was a very good assumption that the new version would be announced at this time. Sorry.
roughwater
torovoltan
Posted 1:20 PM 1/2/08
I just bought my XTi like 4 months ago, WTF!
torovoltan
hudsong
Posted 1:20 PM 2/2/08
Also: the new Pentax is 1200 and it has weather sealing, a 14mp CMOS chip that has been shown in lab tests (probably biased) to have a useable 6400 ISO, with Very Good at 3200. It also has live view, isn't made of plastic, and has a decently sized grip, not to mention lenses sealed supersonic lenses that are typically cheaper than Canon L's series but just as good.
hudsong
hudsong
Posted 1:20 PM 2/2/08
@iomatic:
Yes.
hudsong
bratinella
Posted 3:20 PM 2/2/08
I think I just had a geekasm
bratinella
allenjnl
Posted 12:22 PM 3/2/08
Hey Canon, I want a firmware upgrade for my new damn 40D with contrast based focus in Live view!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FTW!
allenjnl
GoatMonkey
Posted 3:07 AM 22/3/08
@Weihovah: you can grip it by the husk.
GoatMonkey
Buran
Posted 4:57 AM 22/3/08
@GoatMonkey: What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?
Buran
Buran
Posted 4:57 AM 22/3/08
The previous generation is NOT junk. In fact, it's more costefficient to get every other generation of camera, if you insist on upgrades, but even though Nikon's top of the line non-100% pro camera is now the D300, there's plenty of people out there still shooting with D70s that work great.
I own a D200, skipped the D300, and if the D400 has significant advantages over the D300/D200, I might buy it, or might wait for the D500. But even if I never upgrade, that doesn't mean my (fantastic) D200 is junk.
Buran
sickforska
Posted 5:48 PM 23/3/08
The only thing i like in this version is the apparent clarity at high ISOs, but that could just be a lucky picture. I always seem to be taking a lot of super-low light pictures on my xti, but unfortunately my lens budget is also super-low. The live view mode is a nice little gimic, for those who come from the point and shoot world and now think they are photographers, but i still love the feel of a camera against my face.
sickforska